At the invitation of Jaeger-LeCoultre, I traveled impatient to Venice, to attend the International Film Festival of Venice, that the famous House of High end watches has been the official partner for ten years already. Chic outfit for the red carpet? Check. Dress for the gala dinner? Check. The suitcase is ready for my first visit to the city of Venice, for my first Mostra…and an exceptional event with Jaeger-LeCoultre.
© Prestige
The Venetian experience begins when the plane began its approach to the lagoon. Through the window of the Airbus A321, the Serenissima is already revealed, floating as a rebel on the Po delta, the Brenta and Sile. Comprised of 118 islands linked by over 400 bridges, the historic center of Venice is divided into six administrative districts called sestieri (Cannaregio, San Marco, Castello, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro and San Polo), three on each side of the Grand Canal. Countless of other major islands such as Lido (where the festival takes place), Murano, Burano and Torcello… Venice occupies an exceptional and unique location.
© Prestige
Palazzo del Cinema where each year the Venice Film Festival is held.Venice and the 7th Art
With its winding streets, its architectural wealth, its artistic heritage, it is not surprising that Venice is the background for many films. Visit the city of Venice and you will recognize without a doubt some scenes from famous movies: here, the stairs where the characters of Julia Roberts and Woody Allen meet during a morning run, in the movie Everybody Says I Love You. The luxury hotel Danielli is part of The Tourist with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie (who rented on the occasion of this movie a palace on the banks of the Grand Canal to live with Brad Pitt and their six children the time of filming). Fan of Casino Royale? Daniel Craig is active in St. Mark’s Square, crowded with tourists …Usually no shooting is performed during the summer tourist season (around 25 million per year).During filming, the actors, producers and directors face the weather and Acqua alta (high water-) famous flooding due to tides and wind phenomenon. In The Italian Job, Jason Statham is engaged in a high speed chase in narrow canals of the city. To get permission to film this scene, production paid heavy fines! Indeed, it is forbidden to make waves in the canals where a speed limit is strictly enforced. Anecdotes of location, there are hundreds… Only a Venetian will notice the freedom allowed to filmmakers during final assembly, reinterpreting on their own way their city … a city whose cinema is an integral part for over 70 years. Created in 1932 by Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata, the International Film Festival of Venice, or The Mostra of Venice is the oldest film festival in the world and one of the most prestigious.
At the Palazzo del Cinema, a waltz of stars proudly wearing their Jaeger-LeCoultre
© Jaeger – LeCoultre
Milla Jovovich wearing the joaillerie 101 la Reine shows at the premiere of Cymbeline.
© Jaeger – LeCoultre
Al Pacino wearing a Master Ultra Thin watch power reserve, surrounded by Lucila Sola and Camila.Jaeger – LeCoultre and the Venice Film Festival
For its 71st edition, the Mostra keeps its promises, with 20 films competing for the Golden Lion. Loyal partner of the Venice Film Festival, Jaeger-Le Coultre has been engaged for ten years in the preservation and enhancement of the Seventh Art, discipline closely linked to watchmaking by the ingenuity, artistry and technique that should show artisans and filmmakers.The Swiss watchmaker is housed in the Blue Room of the legendary Hotel Excelsior. It was here that was held the first edition of the Festival. Today, the Swiss watchmaker has turned into a must place where celebrities, film buffs and journalists meet over a glass of champagne on the terrace with impressive views of the historic city. At the Palazzo del Cinema, stars are passing on the red carpet, many proudly wearing a Jaeger-LeCoultre: Al Pacino, January Jones, Milla Jovovich, Sarah Gadon, Catherine Deneuve to name a few. We are witnessing the first Italian film Il Giovane Favolo, of Mario Martone. A poetic film about the life of writer and Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi, played brilliantly by Elio Germano, alongside Michele Riondino Massimo Popolizio, Anna Mouglalis, Valerio Binasco, Isabella Ragonese. The standing ovation lasted 10 minutes…
© Jaeger – LeCoultre
Helena Bordon has a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cordonnet Duetto.The International Festival of Venice is also an opportunity for Jaeger-LeCoultre to pay tribute to the creative ingenuity of the filmmakers by awarding the prize Glory to the Filmmaker. Each year the award is given to a person having “contributed greatly to the development of contemporary cinema.”This year, James Franco, whose new film The Sound and the Fury, adapted from the novel by William Faulkner was screened out of competition, following Ettore Scola (in 2013), Spike Lee (2012), Al Pacino (in 2011), the Indian director Mani Ratnam (in 2010) to Sylvester Stallone (2009), Agnes Varda and Abbas Kiarostami (in 2008) and Takeshi Kitano (2007). At the end of the festival, during the ceremony awards, Jaeger-LeCoultre presents its iconic Reverso watch to the winners of the Golden Lion (of the Swedish Roy Andersson A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence), Best Actress (Alba Rohrwacher for Hungry Hearts) and Best Actor (Adam Driver for Hungry Hearts). The three custom made watches, decorated with a lacquered engraving depicting a lion, the symbol of Venice, are handmade according to the traditions and marked with “71. Mostra”.
Reverso Jaeger-Le Coultre watch in pink gold, adorned lacquered engraving depicting a lion. © Jaeger – LeCoultre 
James Franco receiving his “Jaeger – LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award” from Carmen Chaplin and Laurent Vinay, Communications Director at Jaeger-LeCoultre. © Jaeger – LeCoultre
Jaeger-LeCoultre, Venice and the Arts
Venice rhyming with expertise, Jaeger-LeCoultre presented at its annual gala dinner, his new collection Hybris Artistica attended by some two hundred guests from around the world. The Brand Ambassador Clive Owen, Italian actress and friend of the brand Cristiana Capotondi, Milla Jovovich, Scott Haze, Helena Bordon, Miguel Munoz and Astrid Munoz accompanied by the famous polo player Eduardo Novillo Astrada, among others, have all admired the twelve timepieces of the collection, manufactured by Jaeger-LeCoultre in the noblest tradition of Haute Horlogerie and Crafts and housing treasures of inventiveness, know-how and creativity. Jaeger-LeCoultre could not find a better place than the magnificent Scuola Grande di San Rocco to symbolize his dedication to the arts and heritage. Built in the XVIth century, the Brotherhood has made it unique by the creations of the painter Tintoretto. A breathtaking framework with room walls and ceilings of those of the upper floor completely covered with his paintings. Known as the “Sistine Chapel of Venice”, the Scuola di San Rocco features in the Albergo room, one of the scenes from the Passion of Christ and the Crucifixion, one of the most extraordinary works of the painter. Aware of the cultural importance and beauty of this place, Jaeger-LeCoultre becomes patron of the “Scuola” and began a restoration program over three years through various donations. The Lighting and marbles of the ground floor and the Great Superior Hall will be restored to sublimate the staging of this unique place.
From Venice by MARIA NADIM
Watch Hybris Artistica Master Gyrotourbillon 1 of Jaeger-LeCoultre. © Jaeger – LeCoultre
© Prestige
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a setting that leaves you breathless.
